The Effectiveness of Producing a Blended Learning Environment Based on the Programming of an Educational Robot to Develop Problem-solving Skills in Science for Intermediate School Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The goal of this research is to measure the effectiveness of producing a Blended learning environment based on the programming of an educational robot to develop problem-solving skills in science for intermediate school students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research sample was randomly selected from sixty (60) students in the second year. The researcher used the experimental method with a quasi-experimental design (the design of the control group - experimental with a pre and post-test) Where the experimental group is taught through a blended learning environment based on the programming of the educational robot The control group is taught traditionally

The Effectiveness of Producing a Blended Learning Environment Based on the Programming of an Educational Robot to Develop Problem-solving Skills in Science for Intermediate School Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to examine the effect of producing a Blended learning environment based on the programming of an educational robot to develop problem-solving skills in Science for intermediate school students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample of the study consists of   (60) intermediate school students. A total of Four research questions and hypotheses were used in the study. A pre-post-test design was used to achieve the study's objectives in which special treatment was given to the experimental group, whereas no treatment was given to the control group. SPSS was used as a statistical tool to examine the present research results. The study's results proved the effectiveness of a Blended learning environment based on the programming of an educational robot in developing problem-solving skills in Science for intermediate school students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the experimental group showed a better performance in the post-test than the control group. Moreover, the correlation test results indicated a significant positive relationship between the Blended learning environment based on the programming of educational robot performance and students' developing problem-solving skills in Science.   &nbsp

The Impact of Providing Chatbot Content on Developing the English Communication Skills Among Al-Azhar Kindergarten Teachers

This paper focuses on investigating the impact of using Chatbot content on improving the English communication skills of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif kindergarten teachers. The researcher used a quasi-experimental design to explain the differences that occurred in the teachers` performance before and after the intervention of the Chatbot content. This design required the researcher to develop a performance observation checklist, which is the main tool of this research. In addition, the researcher constructed the Chatbot content and the e-training programme. After the research design was completed, thirty-three (33) female Azhari kindergarten teachers participated in this experiment. The performance observation checklist was used for evaluating the teachers` performance before and after the intervention of the Chatbot content and for measuring the teachers` retention of the acquired skills. At the end of the research, a statistical analysis of the results was applied. The results showed a statistically significant difference at the level of 0.05 on the performance observation checklist`s mean scores of the sample teachers' pre-and post-application of the Chatbot content in favour of the postapplication. The second statistical analysis of the performance observation checklist showed that there is no significant difference between the sample teachers` mean scores in the post- and follow-up application of the Chatbot content. These results are proof that validate the research`s main assumption that Chatbot content can improve the English communication skills of kindergarten teachers

The Effectiveness of Using a Cognitive Style-based Chatbot in Developing Science Concepts and Critical Thinking Skills among Preparatory School Pupils

The research investigated the effectiveness of using a cognitive style-based chatbot in developing science concepts and critical thinking skills among preparatory school pupils. To achieve the aim of the research, the researchers applied the two groups' quasi-experimental design and utilized three instruments as follows;1) Budner scale to measure the tolerance of ambiguity; 2) Science concepts achievement test developed by the researchers and implemented before and after applying a cognitive style-based chatbot; 3) The critical thinking skills test developed by the researchers to identify four critical thinking skills required for grade 8 level and implemented before and after applying a cognitive style-based chatbot. The participants were chosen randomly from eighth-graders (N=50) at HOIS (Hurghada Official International School), Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. The researchers divided participants into two experimental groups of 25 pupils (EGA) and (EGB) according to their cognitive style as tolerant or intolerant of ambiguity. Quantitative results showed the significant mean differences between the scores of participants at level (0.005 ≥) in the pre-post testing procedures in favor of the post-testing for both dependent variables (science concept and critical thinking skills). Results indicated the positive impact of utilizing a cognitive style-based chatbot in developing science concepts and critical thinking skills for preparatory school pupils. So, the researchers recommended employing chatbots in learning science for their high effectiveness in developing science concepts and critical thinking skills among preparatory school pupils in Egypt

Dynamic generalized normal distribution optimization for feature selection

High dimensionality of data represents a major problem that affects the accuracy of the classification. This problem related with classification is mainly resulted from the availability of irrelevant features. Feature selection represents a solution to a problem by selecting the most informative features and discard the irrelevant features. Generalized normal distribution optimization (GNDO) represents a newly developed optimization that confirmed its outperformance in comparison with well-known optimization algorithms on parameter extraction for photovoltaic models. As an optimization algorithm, however, GNDO suffers from degraded performance when dealing with a problem with a high dimensionality. The main problems of GNDO include exploitation problem by falling into local optima problem. Also, GNDO has solutions diversity problem when it deals with data with high dimensionality. To alleviate the drawbacks of this algorithm and solve feature selection problems, a local search algorithm (LSA) is used. The new algorithm is called dynamic generalized normal distribution optimization (DGNDO), which includes the following main improvements to GNDO: it can improve the best solution to solve the local optima problem, it can improve solution diversity by improving the randomly selected solution, and it can improve both exploration and exploitation combined. To confirm the outperformance and efficiency of the new DGNDO algorithm, DGNDO algorithm is applied on 20 benchmarked datasets from UCI repository of data. In addition, DGNDO algorithm results are compared with seven well-known optimization algorithms using number of evaluation metrics including classification, accuracy, fitness, the number of selected features, statistical results using Wilcoxon test and convergence curves. The obtained results reveal the superiority of DGNDO algorithm over all other competing algorithms

Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Resistant Hypertension in Egyptian Population

Background: Hypertension is a leading problem; it affects around thirty million adult Egyptians, according to the last national registry. The exact prevalence of resistant hypertension (RH) in Egypt wasn’t spotted before. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, predictors, and impact on adverse cardiovascular outcomes among adult Egyptians with RH. Methods: The present study examined a cohort of 990 hypertensive patients who were divided into two groups based on their blood pressure control; group I (n = 842) patients who achieved blood pressure control and group II (n = 148) patients who met the RH definition criteria. All patients underwent a close follow-up for one year to evaluate the major cardiovascular events. Results: The prevalence of RH was 14.9%. The main predictors impacting the cardiovascular outcomes of RH were advanced age (≥65 years), the presence of chronic kidney diseases, a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, and NSAID use. After one year of follow-up, the RH group displayed noticeably higher rates of major cardiovascular events, including new-onset atrial fibrillation (6.8% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.006), cerebral stroke (4.1% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.011), myocardial infarction (4.7% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.004), and acute heart failure (4.7% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.025). Conclusion: The prevalence of RH in Egypt is moderately high. Patients with RH have a far higher risk of cardiovascular events than those whose blood pressure is within control

Tailoring Cu Electrodes for Enhanced CO 2 Electroreduction through Plasma Electrolysis in Non‐Conventional Phosphorus‐Oxoanion‐Based Electrolytes

This study presents a green, ultra-fast, and facile technique for the fabrication of micro/nano-structured and porous Cu electrodes through in-liquid plasma electrolysis using phosphorous-oxoanion-based electrolytes. Besides the preferential surface faceting, the Cu electrodes exhibit unique surface structures, including octahedral nanocrystals besides nanoporous and microporous structures, depending on the employed electrolyte. The incorporation of P-atoms into the Cu surfaces is observed. The modified Cu electrodes display increased roughness, leading to higher current densities for CO2 electroreduction reaction. The selectivity of the modified Cu electrodes towards C2 products is highest for the Cu electrodes treated in Na2HPO3 and Na3PO4 electrolytes, whereas those treated in Na2H2PO2 produce the most H2. The Cu electrode treated in Na3PO4 produces ethylene (23 %) at −1.1 V vs. RHE, and a comparable amount of acetaldehyde (15 %) that is typically observed for Cu(110) single crystals. The enhanced selectivity is attributed to several factors, including the surface morphology, the incorporation of phosphorus into the Cu structure, and the formation of Cu(110) facets. Our results not only advance our understanding of the influence of the electrolyte\u27s nature on the plasma electrolysis of Cu electrodes, but also underscores the potential of in-liquid plasma treatment for developing efficient Cu electrocatalysts for sustainable CO2 conversion

Pomegranate peel as a natural antioxidant boosts bucks' fertility under Egyptian summer conditions

[EN] Exposure of male rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their fertility, leading to major production losses. A total of 16 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups exposed to temperatures ranging from a high of 30.3 to a low of 27.3 °C. Animals from first to fourth groups were fed diets containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5% pomegranate peel (PP) to evaluate the ability of PP feeding to enhance bucks¿ reproductive status. Pomegranate peel treatments significantly increased ejaculate volume by 19, 18 and 12%, increased seminal plasma fructose by 7, 18, and 24%, improved sperm motility by 28, 34 and 49%, increased sperm total output by 37, 69 and 102% and reduced dead sperm by 24, 32 and 64% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP compared to the heat stressed control animals. Seminal plasma total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides increased while alkaline phosphatase decreased with PP treatments. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity increased to reach 126, 143 and 191% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP, while lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) levels decreased significantly to reach around 54% of the heat stressed bucks¿ value with the three PP dietary doses used. It was concluded that supplementations of PP in the diet of bucks during summer season in Egypt can improve their semen characteristics, probably due to their antioxidant actions.Zeweil, HS.; Elnagar, S.; Zahran, SM.; Ahmed, MH.; El-gindy, Y. (2013). Pomegranate peel as a natural antioxidant boosts bucks' fertility under Egyptian summer conditions. World Rabbit Science. 21(1):33-39. doi:10.4995/wrs.2013.1209.SWORD333921